As the days edge closer to June 22nd, a palpable sense of anticipation is sweeping through sports fans and card collectors alike. The reason? Miller & Miller Auctions is poised to host a captivating online-only sale featuring some of the most revered names from the annals of baseball and hockey history. With a treasury consisting of 235 lots of pre-1980 sports cards and memorabilia, the bidding wars are set to be as intense as a playoff game in double overtime.
Presiding over this vintage parade is none other than Mickey Mantle, the quintessential baseball icon who consistently hit both balls and headlines out of the park. The auction’s crown jewel is the 1952 Topps #311 Mantle rookie card, a veritable Holy Grail for baseball card aficionados. Even though this particular piece might have seen more than a few innings over the years—evidenced by its PSA 2 Good grade, which reflects a well-loved but preserved condition—the card is still stealing the spotlight, with bidding estimates ranging a staggering $40,000 to $50,000 CAD. Rough around the edges it might be, but for collectors, it remains a diamond in the rough, ready to incite as fierce a rivalry among bidders as any Yankees-Red Sox matchup.
Baseball’s lineup doesn’t stop at Mantle. Joining him are 40 cards from the elusive Topps 1952 Sixth Series. Known within collector circles as the “High Numbers,” these cards are like the dessert you can’t resist after a gourmet meal—indulgent and utterly satisfying, even with a bit of wear and tear. With estimates hovering between $3,000 to $5,000 CAD, these cards offer another delectable slice of sports history for those with a hunger for nostalgia.
Switching gears to the icy realms of hockey, the stage remains just as exhilarating. Skating into view is the 1951 Parkhurst #66 card of Gordie Howe, the player who seemed to defy physics with every graceful glide across the ice. Graded in PSA 3 Very Good condition, the card is expected to fetch between $8,000 and $10,000 CAD. It may not be the flawless gem you’d find in a hockey hall of fame, but the card’s pugnacious charm and storied lineage hold undeniable allure for hockey hounds and collectors alike.
As if it were a face-off between seasoned veterans, Bobby Orr’s 1966 Topps #35 rookie card also comes into play, graded KSA 6 Excellent-Near Mint. Expected to generate significant interest with an estimate between $8,000 and $9,000 CAD, this relic beckons hockey enthusiasts and shrewd investors to relive the age of legends on ice.
A standout among these historic treasures is a game-used, team-signed Bill Barilko hockey stick, carrying whispers of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 1951 Stanley Cup victory. With Barilko’s number 5 and teammate signatures etched like modern runes upon the shaft, this stick is more than a piece of wood; it’s a time portal to one of hockey’s most storied seasons. Bidders are anticipated to pony up between $3,000 and $5,000 CAD to add this unique artifact to their collection.
For those with an eye for dramatic flair, a striking shadow box offers a visually tantalizing display. It features rookie cards of Maurice and Henri Richard encased alongside a Louisville Pro Flex stick signed by the dynamic duo. Complemented by a Canadiens puck and a bronze plaque, this tribute to Montreal’s golden era is valued between $4,000 and $6,000 CAD, offering a monumental piece of Canadien history to treasure.
Amidst all the individual card glories, complete sets like the celebrated 110 “Tall Boys” from the 1964-65 Topps series capture the imagination. This set’s elongated cards have perennially enchanted collectors and feature hockey titans like Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull. Estimated at $4,000 to $6,000 CAD and graded in good to very good condition, owning this set is akin to having a roll call of legendary greats over for coffee.
Setting the ice rink ablaze is an uncut sheet from the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee collection of 226 hockey cards. Among the gems present is a pristine #18 Wayne Gretzky rookie card, shimmering with uncut edges and, despite minor wear, substantial collector appeal. It is expected to garner bids of $3,500 to $4,500 CAD.
Reflecting on the assemblage of treasures awaiting new custodians, Ben Pernfuss, Consignment Director at Miller & Miller, describes it aptly as a veritable showcase of sports history. He notes, “Collectors will find key cards from the groundbreaking 1951 Parkhurst hockey and 1952 Topps baseball sets featuring some of the most iconic names in sports,” capturing the collective heartbeat of die-hard fans and seasoned collectors alike.
So, if you have the chops and the wallet to bring a piece of nostalgia into your vault, don’t hesitate to peruse the auction catalog on Miller & Miller’s website, or join the virtual fray through LiveAuctioneers. Known for their prowess in the field of high-value collectibles, Miller & Miller Auctions continues their tradition of delivering top-notch treasure, each piece handled with the finesse a rookie might handle his first game bat or puck.
Will you be the one to claim a slice of sporting legend? The clock ticks toward the big day, and yours might be the winning bid that writes a new chapter in collecting history.
